Pilgrim Priest

Ordinary Time, 16th Sunday (A) You come to Mass most Sundays, and even Holy Days of Obligation. You try not to swear or drink too much or gossip. You are learning to pray and you want to follow Jesus as faithfully as you can.

Meanwhile you know many people--friends, coworkers, your children, siblings, even a spouse--who don't seem to care. They spend every Sunday working, sleeping, or doing basically everything but coming to church. Maybe they drink, gossip, and swear as much as they like. Jesus doesn't seem to care.

If that's the situation you find yourself in, than this parable is for you. Good seed and bad weeds are growing side-by-side. The Master isn't doing anything about it. But he has a plan: "Let them grow until harvest time. Then we will save the wheat and burn up the weeds."

This parable is taken from daily life in Palestine. The people relied heavily on wheat. A clever local weed called darnel looks just like wheat. But when the heads form, you can easily tell the difference.

What is the big difference between weeds and good crops?

The wheat, or any other crop for that matter, produces something that is useful to others. They have a gift to give. The crops are givers.

The weeds have nothing to give away to anyone. They are in it for themselves. The weeds are takers.

To God, the world looks like a field full of weeds and wheat. The world is full of givers and takers. At the moment, it may appear that following Jesus and living for others makes no difference. God seems to be indifferent to this situation. But there will be a reckoning, a final judgement, a harvest. When Jesus tells us, "Do not judge," he is not saying there will be no judgement. He is saying that we are sitting in his seat. He is the judge, and he knows the truth of every human heart. We need to trust in God's final judgement.

So why is he waiting? God is waiting for the fruits to appear. He is giving us time to weed our hearts so we can start producing good fruit. It's not just those other people that need time to produce; God is waiting for us. He made us good seed. We are meant to bear good fruit. But the enemy has sown weeds in our hearts. If we don't weed our hearts, we will bear bad fruit. And we will face the fire at harvest time

(19 July 2026)

Going Deeper: Focus on cultivating your own heart and don't worry about the other people.

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Ordinary Time, 15th Sunday (A) When scripture talks about a gardener, a vineyard owner, or a sower, we are meant to think of God. God "gardened" the world into existence by speaking his word. The world simply receives God's word and does what he says. 

Human hearts are more complicated. Matthew chapter 12 shows much opposition to Jesus's word. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus changes his preaching style. He keeps preaching the truth, but now in riddles or puzzles. You won't be able to receive it if your heart is not open.

We have a responsibility to cultivate the soil of our hearts. The hard soil makes me think of friends, family, and media that scoffs at or dismisses Catholic faith. The rocks are like the hurts and wounds that lurk under the surface. We need to open to God's word the places that have become fossilized by self-protection and self-reliance. Finally, the weeds can speak to all the places where our schedules are overgrown.

God has put a lot of care into you... is he seeing any fruit? We need to cultivate a heart that is ready to receive and grow God's word. 

(12 Jul 2026)

Going Deeper: Can you think of any birds you need to shoo or weeds you need to pull?

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Ordinary Time, 13th Sunday (A) God sees us and he rewards hospitality. A woman of influence feeds and houses Elisha. He wants to reward her, so he promises her a son. God sees the desire of her heart even though she refuses to acknowledge it. He gives her the gift she doesn't even dare to dream about. Then he takes the boy away from her; then he gives him back to her.

Is God being cruel? God knows that our deepest desire is for God himself. Here at Mass, Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. He does this so that we will welcome Him into our hearts and into our homes. He wants to transform us so that we can welcome others and truly love them.
God welcomes us so that
we will welcome him so that
we can welcome others.

God sees, God knows, and God understands. And he will give you what you most deeply desire.

(28 Jun 2026)

Going Deeper: Read 2 Kings 4:8-37 for yourself. There's a further reference in 2 Kings 8:1-6.

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Ordinary Time, 12th Sunday (A) You spend a couple hours playing in the basement building the world's most amazing marble track. Then along comes your brother... and maliciously smashes everything! How do you respond? You might yell, cry, call him names, go smash something of his... or you might go tell Mom everything. This Mom has the time to listen and she really understands. And she assures you that she and Dad are going to take care of it.

We could go a step further and imagine that your mom was watching the whole time. She saw your creativity and your delight. And she knew what your brother was thinking. God heads off evil more often than we realize. But he doesn't save every marble track.

God sees everything. We always have his attention, because he never stops loving us. Even a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without him seeing it. God is watching everyone. This gives Jeremiah confidence when his friends turn against him. God wants the nation of Israel to trust in him and live their covenant by caring for each other and the poor.

We need to live our lives with the confidence that God is watching at every moment. Even if mom didn't see, even if dad wasn't there for us, God sees everything and he is there for us. The Lord sees you and he understands.

(21 Jun 2026)

Going Deeper: What does Christian fatherhood mean to you? Listen to Tony's and Steve's reflections and then draft a brief reflection of your own.

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Ordinary Time, 11th Sunday (A) The Israelites leave Egypt, cross the Red Sea, and spend a year and a half at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It is here that God gives them the Law and they become "The Chosen People."

Christians believe that we, too, are the chosen people. But we also believe that we have been given authority and a mission to bring the love and truth of Jesus Christ to all peoples. Every Christian participates in the mission work throughout the world. Fr. Augustine Adetola shares the needs in his home Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria. They focus on education, health care, and basic services.

Some give by going and others go by giving. Pray for the mission work of the church throughout the world and donate to support the missions.

(14 Jun 2026)

Going Deeper: Learn more about the Diocese of Ijebu-Ode.

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Trinity Sunday (A) God is one divine nature but three separate persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father IS self-giving love and when he gives himself away, that gift is the Son. The Son gives himself back to the Father, and their mutual love is the Holy Spirit.

The Church believes that every human child is a gift from God. The proper response to the presence of a child is to receive, cherish, and protect that gift. As children grow, they are able to give love as siblings and brothers, then as spouses, and finally as parents. We start with receiving the gift and then we grow into the role of the Giver.

God's beautiful plan doesn't always happen that way. Sometimes parents are too busy, distracted, or selfish to really receive their child as a gift. Children can grow up thinking they have to earn love and seeing each other as competition. And then it's hard for them to cherish their children as a gift. And the cycle continues.

How can we break the cycle? By discovering the Fatherhood of God and the Motherhood of Mary. Through Baptism we are incorporated into the Trinity. Our true identity must be rooted in God's love for me. When we find our Home in the Trinity, then we are able to make an ever more perfect gift of ourselves.

(31 May 2026)

Going Deeper: When do I least feel like a gift? What would it look like if I were able to, "Find my home in the Trinity?" How can my words and actions more reflect the reality that my spouse, and my children, are a gift?

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Pentecost Sunday (A) God is a community of love. We were made by love and for love; we were created to live in God's community. God's one desire is to draw us into communion with himself. Our sins have made us both unworthy and unable to participate in God's community. So Jesus comes to reconnect us with God. He does this first "in the flesh" by being God and Man. He offers himself as the perfect sacrifice to free us from our sins. Then he sends us the Holy Spirit, which is the fire of God's divine love. As a spirit gives life to the body, so the Holy Spirit gives life to the church.

When we gather at Sunday Mass, we are gathering around the "camp fire" to be warmed by the love of God. So many of us are standing outside the fire of God's love. When we come into the fire, it hurts but it heals us, it frees and reveals us: Standing inside the fire!

The Holy Spirit wants to set us on fire so that each of us can burn with the love of God. God's one desire is to bring us into communion with him. So why do we keep standing outside the fire?

(24 May 2026)

Going Deeper: Learn the Veni Sancte Spiritus for yourself.

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Easter, 6th Sunday (A) The Sunday Lectionary is designed around the idea of promise and fulfillment. In the Gospel, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. The Acts of the Apostles shows what happens when the Holy Spirit comes in power. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit, "the Paraclete" which means "one who is called alongside of you." The Spirit helps Christians in our needs. 

One day at Faith Formation we played a game, "Pin the flame on the Apostle." We blindfolded the students and spun them in circles. But then they called alongside of them a sighted classmate who could whisper in their ear and give them guidance. Most of them did a great job with the help of a Paraclete.

The Spirit comes to teach us that we are not orphans. We don't need to protect ourselves, provide for ourselves, or guide ourselves because we have the Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit!

(10 Mary 2026)

Going Deeper: Plan a Pentecost Party. Play "Pin the Flame on the Apostle."

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Easter, 5th Sunday (A) How can every vocation be special? Each rock that makes up St. Hyacinth Church is a unique shape, size, and color. The whole church is built of unique, unrepeatable stones. Every stone is special! In a similar way, each and every person has a special vocation.

These vocations all have something in common. Every Christian shares in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, which means we offer sacrifice, sanctify the world, and connect heaven and earth. You bring the offering of your life to the altar, I offer it to God, receive Jesus, and give Jesus back to you. Then bring Jesus out with you into the world.

The one big obstacle to all our vocations is egoism, that is, believing that my life is all about me. It prevents me from accepting the shape that God has created me to be and from giving myself away.

How do you find your vocation? Practice listening to the voice of God today. Learn to live with Jesus and for Jesus each and every day. If you are really living your Christian life well, whoever has seen you has seen Jesus.

(3 May 2026)

Going Deeper: Pray to be freed from egoism, so that you can live each day with Jesus and for Jesus.

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Easter, 4th Sunday (A) Happy Good Shepherd Sunday, which could have also been called "Sheep Gate Sunday." Today is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. I think we often associate the word "vocation" with recruiting people to be priests and nuns. But the first vocation, the first "call" we receive, is the call of Baptism.

I was recently listening to a podcast on the idea that Judaism is about love. Mr. Shai Held says that love is an orientation, that is, a choice to engage the world with a particular stance or attitude. Through Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion, every Christian is called to love God and incarnate God's love in our attitude towards others. Our Baptism is a call to a life of self-giving love. Through Baptism, I learn to lay down my life for others. 

All the secondary vocations are calls to particular ways of self-giving love. Marriage is the call to give yourself to your spouse. Single people can serve others in their family and community. Religious life is a call to self-giving love in and through a community. Priesthood is a call to self-giving love after the model of the Good Shepherd. Each of us is called to that stance, posture, or orientation of self-giving love after the model of Jesus Christ. Are you following the call?

(26 Apr 2026)

Going Deeper: How would you describe in your own words what the stance, posture, or orientation of self-giving love means? In what ways are you living this well, and where do you need to improve?

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